The Rep 18 December 2020

2 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 18 December 2020 THE R E P R ES E N TAT I V E
Arrive alive at your destination
Officers are out in full force to
curb the rate of road collisions
ABONGILE
S O L U N D WA N A
Cellphone headsets are
said to be one of the
reasons why seven
pedestrians were killed in road
collisions last month — 25
people died in the province.
This was revealed at the
2020 Festive Season Arrive Alive
Campaign launched by
transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana-
Gxothiwe, on the N6 near
Komani on Friday.
Tikana-Gxothiwe called on
road users — motorists in
particular — to work with law
enforcement officers to curb the
rate of accidents on the
p r ov i n c e ’s roads.
The MEC said road users
who disregarded the rules of the
road would be dealt with.
“The department is
expecting the delivery of
number plate recognition
system buses over the weekend
to add to our efforts so that
motorists have accessible ways
of paying fines. Komani is a
strategic place where taxis
coming on the R61 from the
Western Cape and the N6 from
Gauteng converge,” said
Ti k a n a - G x o t h i w e .
EC transport department
spokesperson Unathi Binqose
said the purpose of the
campaign was to make sure
those travelling long distances
via the N6 would arrive safely at
their destinations.
A part of their mission was to
ensure motorists complied with
Covid-19 regulations such as
the wearing of face masks and
using hand sanitisers in
vehicles, as failure to do so
would lead to penalties.
“We are reassessing
operating licences for public
transportation and shuttle
services because these are some
of the reasons why fights erupt
in the public transport industry.
“We are inspecting vehicles
for roadworthiness as
unroadworthy vehicles often
lead to road accidents.
“We are sending a message
to passengers to call out drivers
when they drive recklessly.”
Last year’s road collision
statistics in the Eastern Cape
recorded 81 road deaths, down
from 102 in 2019.
Binqose said the hope was
for zero accidents which was a
tough call.
ENSURING COMPLIANCE: Transport department MEC Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe interacting
with a taxi driver at a roadblock on the N6 just outside Komani during the 2020 Festive Season
Arrive Alive Campaign launch on Friday Picture: ABONGILE SOLUNDWANA
“If I have managed to survive
every December, the same is
possible for others.”
Although collisions
happened almost daily, Binqose
said the department’s focus was
on those resulting in fatalities.
What was rarely spoken
about, according to him, was
the harsh reality of the impact
road collisions had on survivors.
“For every person who dies
in a road accident there are at
least three or four whose lives
are tragically affected. They
❝We are sending a
message to
passengers to call out
drivers when they
drive recklessly
either become wheelchairbound
or sustain internal
injuries with long-term health
effects. Accidents also create
pressure on the road accident
f u n d ,” Binqose said.
There were people who, he
said, were making fun of those
who deliberately got themselves
involved in accidents with the
aim to cash in on the road
accident fund. A gamble which
could lead to their death.
Binqose said people should
get this out of their minds and
instead to preserve their lives.
“Not all people are reckless
drivers. A collision means one
of the drivers was wrong. People
need to remember that roads are
shared spaces. There is a
tendency for passengers not to
use safety belts in public
transport. They think they are
only meant for the front seats.
Many people end up losing their
lives when they are flung out of
the vehicle.”
Motorists should also never
operate phones while driving,
Binqose said.
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24 Prince Alfred Street, Komani
PO Box 453, Komani, 5319
045 839 4040 / Fax: 045 839 4059
Chris van Heerden, vanheerdenc@arena.africa
Luvuyo Mjekula, mjekulal@therep.co.za
Charodine Visagie, charodinev@therep.co.za
www.therep.co.za
@RepKomani
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ZINTLE BOBELO
As President Cyril Ramaphosa tightened
restrictions on Monday amid the rising number
of Covid-19 cases in the province, the police
together with the community policing forum
(CPF) invaded the streets of Komani at the
weekend in an operation that sought to flatten
the curve.
Police spokesperson captain Namhla
Mdleleni indicated that liquor outlets were
viewed as a contributing factor in the rapid
Covid-19 transmissions.
She said a number of outlets were visited to
check compliance in an operation led by Vispol
commander, colonel Loyiso Ngalo.
“27 suspects were arrested; two for drunk
driving and 25, including a minor, were arrested
for failing to confine themselves to their places of
r e s i d e n c e .”
Mdleleni said they appeared before the
Queenstown magistrate’s court on Monday.
“We will not tolerate irresponsible behaviour
of residents who do not comply with the disaster
management act regulations as they are placing
the entire community at risk,” said Ngalo.
Newly elected CPF chairperson Mihle
Gogela said the operation followed appeals
made by the forum to the station commander
after noticing that people were not adhering to
the Covid-19 regulations.
“People are letting their guard down. They
are living as if Covid-19 does not exist. In our
regular patrols, we try our best to enforce the
law. We have seen groups gather in Cathcart
Road and while the numbers are increasing,
crime takes its toll in the area. We do not want to
get to the state that Nelson Mandela Bay is
facing. People, especially females, who are seen
walking in the streets after the curfew become
targets of crime.”
Gogela, who commended Ngalo for his
dedication, indicated that the operation had had
a huge impact. He puts himself in the forefront
and leads by example. I admire his true
dedication, for engaging with the CPF and for
making great strides in the Queenstown station. I
commend the other members for the successful
o p e ra t i o n .”
Chris Hani district commissioner, major
general Funeka Siganga, said people were likely
to suffer adverse events.
“These range from fights to crashes caused by
excitement that may lead to the misuse and
abuse of substance, especially alcohol.
Therefore, please do not drink and drive.
“We are faced with the challenge of a
pandemic so we need to practise caution. Wear
masks. Sanitise and wash your hands. Officials
will be out on the ground to secure our
community and work together in fighting crime.”